Igokea Aleksandrovac came back from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to eventually beat Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir 110-98 in double-overtime to remain in the running for the Last 32 in the Eurocup. With former assistant Milutin Latinic replacing fired coach Dragan Bajic, Igokea improved to 2-4 in Group E. Branko Jorovic paced the winners with 27 points while Sergerio Gipson added 25 points including nine points in the second overtime. Nemanja Gordic collected 16 points and 10 assists and Sinisa Stemberger chipped in 15 points for Igokea. Pinar had chances to win the game at the buzzer of regular and the first overtime but dropped to 4-2 despite Esteban Batista collecting 27 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and 11 fouls drawn. Bobby Dixon added 22 points on five three-pointers in the loss while Jon Diebler also knocked down five three-balls in scoring 20 points. And Leo Lyons added 15 points.

Lyons opened the scoring for Pinar and gave the guests a 4-5 lead. Jorovic scored back-to-back baskets and a three-ball as Igokea opened an 11-7 lead. After Dixon and Uros Mirkovic swapped three-balls, Milan Dozet made it 18-14 before another Dixon long ball left the hosts ahead 18-17 after one quarter. A Stemberger trey early in the second quarter increased the lead to 22-17. Diebler would get the gap down to 24-22 before five straight Igokea points. And the hosts were still up 31-24 when Diebler and Yunus Sonsirma Sons both nailed three-pointers in a 2-10 Pinar run for a 33-34 lead. Stemberger’s score had the home side up 35-34 at intermission.

Both teams were hot from long range early in the second half with Stemberger’s triple evening the game at 43-43. But the guests didn’t stop their fine form with Lyons, Dixon, Diebler and Inanc Koc all hitting from downtown as Izmir took a 50-61 lead after three quarters. Batista increased the cushion to 53-65 before Igokea used triples from Mirkovic and Jorovic for a 9-0 surge to close the gap to three points. Batista’s steal and dunk made it 62-69 before Gipson scored five points in helping knot the game at 69-69. After Dixon and Gipson swapped long balls, Sonsirma dunked home an offensive rebound with 22 seconds left in regular for a 72-74 Pinar lead. Gordic evened the game with eight seconds left and Sonsirma missed the game-winning attempt to send it to overtime. Gordic gave Igokea a 78-75 lead before Diebler nailed a three and Batista pushed the guests up 78-81. Jorovic answered with a three and Gordic knocked down a long ball for an 84-83 lead. Dixon gave Izmir the lead and then made two free throws with 17 seconds left for an 84-87 lead. But Jorovic nailed a three-ball to even it at 87-87. Diebler missed a trey at the buzzer, sending the game to a second extra session. Igokea was able to pull away as Gipson nailed three three-pointers and Jorovic also was on target from long range in opening a 103-96 lead with less than a minute left to decide the game.

Head Coaches

LATINCIC, MILUTIN

Igokea Aleksandrovac

"Everyone who came to the arena tonight could enjoy a beautiful display of basketball. We won against a great team, a Euroleague level team if I may say so. Pinar gave us a lot of headaches with their three-point shots and offensive rebounding, but even when we were 12 points down in third period we believed in victory and didn't give up. We showed great character as a team, the thing I insisted the most since taking over the role of head coach. We have very tough schedule both in the Adriatic League and Eurocup, but if we play like this, we can continue with our winning streak."

SARICA, UFUK

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir

"We played against a very good team that played great game and at the end had more luck in decisive moments. It was a very entertaining game; we made some tough shots, they made some tough shots, and I can only congratulate Igokea. I told my players to foul at the end, but they didn't do so. Still, I have to be satisfied because we are in good position to qualify to the next round of Eurocup. There really is no secret behind our good games this and last season, and when we play like we know, we can challenge any team."

Players

JOROVIC, BRANKO

Igokea Aleksandrovac

"Maybe this is some kind of reward for losing against Khimki last round after overtime in a game which we also deserved to win. As coach said we showed great character because we played best when it was most important. This victory means a lot to us and it can only bring us great confidence because we have proved that we can play against very strong teams. There is still some gas left in our tanks and we are now heading to Skopje to play an Adriatic League game against another Eurocup team, MZT."

DIEBLER, JON

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir

"It was a great game but at the end we ended up losing. We had our chances to win the game before it went to overtime, but unfortunately we didn't. Igokea deserved this victory and we have to forget about this game as soon as possible. We don't want to look too much ahead, because we are focusing only on the next game and our coaching staff is preparing us well for the challenges to come."